A Thai just asked to borrow money from me.

[Som wat]

Only 2000 baht.

I said that I don't lend anybody money.

But if she needs 2000b then I'm willing to pay her 1000b a day for helping me in the garden for two days. More than a fair rate.

Should have seen her face drop.

For the split second it was still there before disappearing faster than the Roadrunner.

I love Thailand.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Som wat

[Tayida]

Its plenty of that.I recive that request on fb and twitter almost every day

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 7.5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[trainman34014]

In Thaispeak 'borrow' means 'give me'.

[i claudius]

In Thaispeak 'borrow' means 'give me'.

It is rare to get money back that you lend to a Thai , harsh but true ,

[Lite Beer]

In Thaispeak 'borrow' means 'give me'.

It is rare to get money back that you lend to a Thai , harsh but true ,

Absolute rubbish

[Costas2008]

A Thai, wants to borrow money? OK if you think he needs it.

Get his bank card and pin and draw the money from his wages.

The only problem is that he will be bothering you to withdraw money during the month.

That's the only way you guarantee your money back.

[Banshee]

Some pay back some don't.

I work to hard to loan it to them to find out who does and does not.

[Beetlejuice]

The OP must lead an extremely sad and boring life if all he has to do is create a thread with a few lines of Thai bashing in the hope that he will receive some supporting replies from others like himself of little education and intelligence.

My advice to the OP and the ignoramuses that agree with him; is to get a life.

[Seastallion]

2000 is not a lot to lose if she defaulted. Should have lent it at an extortionate rate of interest. Extortionate in our eyes (10% per month) is quite reasonable in theirs. By making it a business transaction, you have made it clear that you are not willing to write it off as a gift.

Offering a job for payment is ok, as long as the job is not demeaning. OP's garden work was probably too low class for her so he should have either offered a different job or asked her if she has a nephew to do the garden for her.

The brother of a friend of my SO needed 2000 bht. I needed to get somewhere (nearly 2 hours drive). He drove me there and back, I gave him 2000....both parties happy.

[Tywais]

In Thaispeak 'borrow' means 'give me'.

It is rare to get money back that you lend to a Thai , harsh but true ,

Absolute rubbish

I agree it is an over generalization but the odds for me have been pretty poor getting a loan back. Just loaned to someone I've known for nearly 20 years 2k several weeks ago as he had lost his position at the university due to cut backs. Promised to return it at the end of the week when he collects his SS return. Found out he borrowed 10k from another acquaintance and some from another. None figure they are going to see it again. I rarely loan due to bad experiences like this, but there are a few close Thai friends that I wouldn't hesitate to loan within limits. But that goes for farangs too.

[benalibina]

Decade ago i lent money to a woman in Patong Beach. 5k. 3 months later after her being in Koh Samui, she came back to Patong Beach. I stayed in touch with her occasionally that time before. When back in Patong i reminded her about 5 k. Wait couple of days she replied. Told this to some friends and had a bet with them about her paying me back. They laughed....no way she is going to pay you back. 3 days later the girl called me and paid me back. Got the money and won the bet.

[Beetlejuice]

My philosophy is and always has been that I don`t lend money. I had the same principle back in my home countries and the same applies with me in Thailand.

Lending money is one of the fastest ways to lose friends and create bad feeling if the persons do not or are unable to pay back. so I never get involved. I have given money in the past if I had it, to family members and friends if I considered they were in urgent need and worthy people.

A couple of years ago one of my neighbors had his house roof severely damaged after a storm. The cost of repair about 4000 baht. He never asked to borrow money from me but instead I offered to pay for the repair because I know these people are poor. I do not make a habit of giving money out willy nilly, but in this case I felt good by doing the good deed. But as for lending money, no, I won`t become involved and that is the best attitude for those who do not want problems.

[Lucifer]

One of my biggest problem is, how do I say no without offending them?

My feeling is that as soon as they ask, the relationship is never the same again.

[h90]

In Thaispeak 'borrow' means 'give me'.

It is rare to get money back that you lend to a Thai , harsh but true ,

Absolute rubbish

Some give the money back, but these are these people who usually wouldn't borrow money unless they really need it.

Some don't give it back and these are the people who always want to borrow.

[art vandelay]

if you have thai friends then you will know - because just about every thai i know complains about this - that it is extremely common here to lend money to friends and family and never see it again.

what baffles me is i know not to lend to a thai for this reason but thai's themselves keep on doing it...

sorry if this is seen as thai bashing but its what i hear from thai's again and again.

[wolf5370]

I have lent money a few times. I usually ask for a fixed payback date and something as security. One woman that lived nearby that I hardly knew asked me through my sister-in-law to borrow 300 baht for 3 weeks. Pennies to me, but obviously can't be seen as a soft touch - she offered up a watch (a fake, but a good one - worth probably 500-1000 baht). She returned some 6 months later and asked for the watch back - I said I had given it away as she never returned the money - she never asked again, which was fine by me (my daughter liked the watch too ).

Once has a friend, Thai girl that lived down the road. Her German boyfriend (not the usual - he was half Thai and wealthy and 5 years her junior - both in their 20s) was studying back in Germany and had not sent the money for her and their new born baby - she had called and he was sending it by money xfer - so would take 5 days - she was in tears and I knew was very embarrassed to ask to borrow a 1000 baht. I knew her and would not care too much if she never returned it as she was a friend. 3 days later she came in and gave it back to me - very happy and relieved.

I have lent money to friends in the UK - some I got back (some quite large amounts) - some I did not. There are trustworthy people and the opposite all over the world IMO. Some will pay back, other will not.

[kurnell]

I know a girl who borrowed 500 baht, couldn't pay it back and offered to....never mind.

[Beetlejuice]

One of my biggest problem is, how do I say no without offending them?

My feeling is that as soon as they ask, the relationship is never the same again.

That`s not a problem for me.

If there were people that I know that seemed to be constantly down on their luck, often in need and wanting to borrow money, than I don`t want to be associated with them and couldn`t give a rat`s behind if they get offended or not. The worst that can happen is that I never see them again and then they go away and become a burden to someone else..

My friends and I have always had a pact. We pay our own way that includes paying our own expenses when socialising and if we don`t have the money, than we can`t have, it`s that simple. That`s the way I like it, each responsible for ourselves and never plying my problems onto others and this way I can always hold my head high and be obliged to no one.

[benalibina]

Although nothing is perfect in what i write now......the thai way of helping others out without judging the 1 who wants/needs to borrow money....is a good way.

[Scarpolo]

Had the girl I eventually moved in with borrow 3,000 Baht for cosmetics, saying she would pay me back the next time she saw me.

at this point I only knew her about 3 weeks

2 days later, she appeared at my door, with the 3,000 Baht.

I never had any doubt she would repay.

Some will, some won't

it all depends on your relationship with them, Thai or not Thai

it also helps, if they have the ability to repay.

if not, forget it,

its already gone before you give it, and, so is the friendship,

unless you like being robbed

Edited April 17, 2014 by Scarpolo

[pigeonjake]

2000 is not a lot to lose if she defaulted. Should have lent it at an extortionate rate of interest. Extortionate in our eyes (10% per month) is quite reasonable in theirs. By making it a business transaction, you have made it clear that you are not willing to write it off as a gift.

Offering a job for payment is ok, as long as the job is not demeaning. OP's garden work was probably too low class for her so he should have either offered a different job or asked her if she has a nephew to do the garden for her.

The brother of a friend of my SO needed 2000 bht. I needed to get somewhere (nearly 2 hours drive). He drove me there and back, I gave him 2000....both parties happy.

bloody hell ive lost more running for the bus,

better to takje a little hit first time, then say it happend before never again

[kannot]

One of my biggest problem is, how do I say no without offending them?

My feeling is that as soon as they ask, the relationship is never the same again.

Say "not at the moment" this implies you might.

[thailampang2012]

Years ago if I was responding to this topic...in the US...I will say that lending money to a friend is the way to ending the friendship....and can happen here with a Thai friend too........but....now.. I am not really sure about this topic. After getting married with a simple Thai woman from a simple Thai family that I know will lend me or giving me money if I really need it...my "values" are changing...

[kandi]

The OP must lead an extremely sad and boring life if all he has to do is create a thread with a few lines of Thai bashing in the hope that he will receive some supporting replies from others like himself of little education and intelligence.

My advice to the OP and the ignoramuses that agree with him; is to get a life.

Just out of curiousity; do you also have anything more to say than accusing the OP in every thread as a Thai basher (just like here, here or here) only because they mention an aspect of life that does not fit your rose tinted ideal of Thailand?

[Thongkorn]

I live in the UK I often lend money to Thai people and i ALWAYS get it back. I Must admit that its only to people i know, And known them along time, It usually a few Hundred pounds, because they get ripped off at the Banks. Just the other side of the coin , There are Genuine People about.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Thongkorn

[crazykopite]

No such word as BORROW in Thailand the word is GIVE and only a fool would do that unless it is to a policeman or immigration officer

[writeshack]

2000 is not a lot to lose if she defaulted. Should have lent it at an extortionate rate of interest. Extortionate in our eyes (10% per month) is quite reasonable in theirs. By making it a business transaction, you have made it clear that you are not willing to write it off as a gift.

Offering a job for payment is ok, as long as the job is not demeaning. OP's garden work was probably too low class for her so he should have either offered a different job or asked her if she has a nephew to do the garden for her.

The brother of a friend of my SO needed 2000 bht. I needed to get somewhere (nearly 2 hours drive). He drove me there and back, I gave him 2000....both parties happy.

Yes 10% interest per month payable, even more if they don't have a cha nort land title or something similar as security. My wife does that a lot. Never mind the capital, the interest very soon exceeds it and the debt continues. That's standard village usury in Thailand, but still cheaper than the Chinese or Indian money lenders who always end up owning the land too.

[Banzai99]

I have found it's Farangs who are really bad at paying people back or just downright cheating people out of money, with never any intention of paying back.

Years ago I fell for the " I'm getting money sent over soon " story, one guy took me for 60,000 Baht, then disappeared. ( I J. if you're reading this, you know who I am, you are not forgotten!), Various other small loans rarely paid back, on the other hand I have had Thai people always pay back, incredible that I and ThaiVisa members should have such different experiences.

Then again mine are real, not made up.

[stickylies]

i have done the same thing, except i offered 350/day...

[taotoo]

"But if she needs 2000b then I'm willing to pay her 1000b a day for helping me in the garden for two days. More than a fair rate.

Should have seen her face drop."

This is an amazing litmus test that's gone unappreciated in this thread so far.